knott-intraspecific-2017.pdf (738.36 kB)
Intraspecific geographic variation in rod and cone visual pigment sensitivity of a parrot, Platycercus elegans
journal contribution
posted on 2017-01-27, 00:00 authored by Ben Knott, Mathew BergMathew Berg, Raoul RibotRaoul Ribot, John EndlerJohn Endler, Andy BennettVariation in wavelength sensitivity among subspecies is unknown among vertebrates. The parrot Platycercus elegans has extreme plumage variation between subspecies ranging from pale yellow to crimson which, with differences in background colour and light environment between subspecies, makes it a good candidate for the evolution of within-species differences in vision. We report differences in visual pigments between populations of P. elegans from two subspecies, providing the first known support for population and subspecies variation in visual pigments within a vertebrate species; it is also the first instance of intraspecific variation in rod sensitivity within any vertebrate species. Differences in wavelength sensitivity of rods and cones corresponded to geographic differences in plumage colour. Between study populations, visual pigments varied but not oil droplets. Adaptive functions for the visual pigment differences are untested but they could cause divergence in behaviours associated with colour as well as in dim light, and provide insights into the role of senses in divergence and speciation.
History
Journal
Scientific reportsVolume
7Article number
41445Pagination
1 - 8Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
eISSN
2045-2322Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, The AuthorsUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC